RF Micro Devices?, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD?), a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications applications, today announced that it has extended its traction in the cellular handset market with its complete line of system-on-chip (SoC) Bluetooth? products, transceivers and protocol stack software, enabling handset manufacturers to more easily integrate Bluetooth wireless technology into current- and next-generation cellular handsets. RFMD’s UltimateBlue? solutions are optimized to deliver advanced capabilities, such as Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) and streaming music that leading cellular service providers are requiring in their feature-rich handsets.
Frank Morese, vice president, Wireless Connectivity Business Unit, RFMD, said, “RFMD’s Bluetooth solutions continue to gain traction in the high-volume market for cellular handsets. Our Bluetooth solutions have been qualified for numerous phone designs, and we expect multiple new handsets will incorporate our Bluetooth solutions this year. This summer, we anticipate that shipments will commence to major handset manufacturers.”
David Favreau, general manager, Wireless Personal Networking (WPAN) product line at RFMD, said, “The advent of mobile phones with MP3 playback and storage capabilities is driving increased demand for Bluetooth technology. Through the advanced audio/video capabilities of our Bluetooth solutions, RFMD is giving consumers the freedom to experience CD-quality audio via wireless headset connections to their mobile phones. RFMD will continue to meet the growing demand for Bluetooth technology in cell phones through the reduced system cost of our on-board solutions and the migration to EDR capabilities.”
RFMD offers a complete line of high-performance, low-power Bluetooth SoC solutions for mobile phones. The Company also offers feature-rich HCI software, upper layer protocol stack software, all major profiles and development tools that enable customers to speed their products to market.
RFMD’s UltimateBlue Bluetooth portfolio is comprised of the following solutions:
The SiW4000 SoC Bluetooth solution with EDR is the world’s smallest Bluetooth EDR solution in 0.13 micron with best-in-class current consumption. With its easy-to-use 4.5mm x 4.5mm BGA package, low power consumption and low bill of materials (BOM) cost, the SiW4000 is ideally suited for high-volume mobile phone production. The SiW4000 is being featured at Wireless Connectivity World 2005.
The SiW3500 SoC Bluetooth solution is Bluetooth V2.0 qualified for improved interoperability with existing Bluetooth products. The on-chip RF matching circuit facilitates direct on-board design, accelerating time to market while lowering the cost of implementation. The SiW3500 is currently shipping in volume to handset original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The SiW1722 transceiver is specifically designed and OEM-qualified for Bluetooth-enabled CDMA mobile phone ASICs. Leveraging the Bluetooth baseband function integrated into the mobile phone ASIC, this solution provides the lowest total cost to add Bluetooth technology into a mobile phone design. The SiW1722 is Bluetooth V2.0 qualified and is in production now.
RFMD’s embedded protocol stack and profile software delivers a flexible solution that is easily ported to mobile phone platforms. More than 20 individual profiles are available, such as stereo audio profile (A2DP) and remote control profile (AVRCP), which are being requested by an increasing number of carriers. With its well-defined programming interface, porting to the mobile phone platform can be accomplished with confidence. RFMD offers a turnkey mobile phone solution via the Embedded Host Software Development Kit (SDK).